KUCHING: The Royal Malaysia Customs Department has seized contraband cigarettes and alcohol valued at RM1.6mil, including estimated duties and taxes, from three premises here.
Sarawak Customs director Norizan Yahya said raids were carried out separately at Batu 9 Jalan Penrissen, Batu Kawa New Township and Taman Malihah on Feb 25.
All three raids were conducted based on intelligence from the department's headquarters, he said.
"In the first case, Customs officers found 120,740 sticks of cigarettes of various brands and 6,826.27l of alcoholic beverages in the premises.
"A local man was arrested in the raid," told a press conference here on Tuesday (Apr 8).
Norizan said 2,776.25l of alcohol were seized in the second raid while the third resulted in the seizure of 331,520 sticks of cigarettes and 13,681.92l of alcohol.
Another local man was also arrested in the third raid.
The seized cigarettes and alcohol were valued at RM708,913 in total while the duties and taxes involved were estimated at RM917,466.
Norizan said all three premises were believed to be used for the storage, distribution and sale of the contraband items.
"The cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act," he said, adding that they involved different syndicates.
He also urged the public to assist Customs in combating the smuggling of cigarettes, alcohol, firecrackers, drugs, vehicles and other contraband.
Members of the public can report smuggling activities to the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs office. The identity of all informants is kept confidential.
